For anyone who thinks weirdly heavy (and heavily weird) music is the exclusive domain of testosterone-addled menfolk, HotChaCha come roaring out of Cleveland’s city limits with amps-to-11 proof to the contrary, answering the largely unasked question, “What would Sonic Youth sound like if Thurston Moore, Steve Shelley and Lee Renaldo were women?” Or maybe Siouxsie Sioux and Perry Farrell had a daughter and raised her on Noise Rock and steroids. Or Brian Eno and David Bowie played X-Ray Spex albums obsessively during their Berlin phase. Or, quite possibly and more likely, HotChaCha is simply four cool women from Cleveland who decided to play whatever their quirky hearts desired at blistering volume and with heart-stopping intensity.
HotChaCha assembled on the North Coast three years ago when guitarist Mandy Aramouni and vocalist Jovana Batkovic (who appeared in The Black Keys video for “Your Touch”) recognized the power of their potential, invited drummer Lisa Paulovcin into the fold and jammed for three months before playing their first gig at a benefit for the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center. Bassist Heather Gmucs saw the band’s debut and offered her services, completing the lineup.
HotChaCha play The Comet in Northside Friday. Go here for Brian Baker's full Sound Advice, show details and directions.
